Filling our the Finance Application

Filling our our Finance Application is pretty easy. Here is a link to the page

http://www.eddiemercer.com/financing/application.htm

It is important that you fill out as much as you can on this application. That will give us a more accurate picture of what we can do for you and which banks or credit unions may work for you. If you don't feel comfortable filling it out online, you can always give us a call or come in to fill it out.

The first section is just simple contact information. Much of this is required including your name, date of birth, email, phone number, and Social Security number. The second section is address information. Required here is your address, time at this address, and rent/mortgage amount. The other questions on this list are Rent/Own, the name of your landlord, and previous address.

Next is Employment Information. Time at job and salary can affect what cars you can buy in some cases so it's important to fill this out accurately. There is also a spot to fill out previous employer. Fourth is the banking information tab.

The fifth and sixth tabs are not required unless you are considering a cosigner. Finally, is the Privacy statement. Here we explain the process and how we will safeguard your information.

It's pretty simple, isn't it?

Wish List : LaSalle Convertible

Today, we asked another salesman about his "dream car". It only took him about 30 seconds and he asked "One I just want to have, or a daily driver?" We told him anything he wants. He landed on the 1939 or 1940 LaSalle Convertible. 

While the LaSalle was made by Cadillac, it never actually had the Cadillac name. This allowed it to be priced lower than its counterparts who did have the brand name. A major reason it was released was to fill a "price gap" in General Motors's lines. It was designed by Harley Earl and this vehicle had a big effect on his life; he later became the overseer of all General Motor designs. The car was named after the French explorer, Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. 

First released in 1927, it was considered agile and stylish. Sales did not do so well, especially in the early years. Some of this had to do with the Great Depression but even when the economy began to pick up, the LaSalle did not. However, the similar Packard One Twenty introduced in 1935 did not suffer in the slightest. Packard sold 72% more than the LaSalle over 6 years. 

One suspicion for this huge gap in sales is that the LaSalle did not carry the Cadillac name! It was only $1,000 cheaper than the lower priced Cadillac in 1934, but sales continued to be lackluster. The idea is that maybe the LaSalle would have sold better if it was sold under the Cadillac brand as well.

This was attempted in 1937. It was advertised as completely Cadillac built and the price was lower. It did help sales quite a lot! But not enough. It seemed to late. Cadillac has prestige and it was too late with the ongoing depression to advertise the prestige of the LaSalle.

 

Even though sales were not as good as they wanted, between 1933 and 1940 sales did continue to rise. In 1939, 23,028 sold and in 1940, 24,133. In 1939, the LaSalle also became more "Cadillac" in design.

We managed to find a few for sale on the internet. The first one seemed to have some restoration parts but was a beautiful car for $74,900. There was also a 1940 50 series Convertible sedan on Ebay for $57,500 with only 21,127 miles. It has the V-8 with a 3 Speed column shift. Only 125 of these were made.

It's a beautiful car and at first, we weren't entirely sure why this one was his choice but then he explained. He had owned one when he was younger. He sold it in the 70s for $10,000 cash. However, he found it again in the 80s when it sold at auction for $280,000. Like Miss Daisy said, "I should have kept my LaSalle."

Sources: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaSalle_%28automobile%29 ; Ebay, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cadillac-Other-Convertible-1940-lasalle-series-50-sedan-convertible-original-cadillac-excellent-/321242888223?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4acb91781f&item=321242888223&pt=US_Cars_Trucks ; Hemmings, http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/lasalle ; Driving Miss Daisy movie

Has Craigslist Affected Your Car Search?

In December, Craigslist began requiring dealers to pay $5 an add to post in the "cars and trucks" section. Many dealers, of course, balked! It does seem a bit steep. Several of the people we talked to said they would consider it more if it was $1 or $2 an ad, but $5 seemed excessive to lots of dealerships. The major reason we say that is a lot of the car salesmen, post their OWN ads. It's not always a "big business" posting the ads for them.

One reason Craigslist did this was because dealers were posting multiple ads for the same car. One salesman would post the 2012 Toyota and then another would post the same car an hour later, often times not even aware it was originally posted by someone else. There used to be thousands in a city with this method.

Now, you're lucky to see 25 car postings in a single day. Actually, there are only TWO cars listed for Sunday! One issue we have with it is that if Craigslist deems your ad incorrect for some reason, they can close it without a way to receiving a refund.

Instead though, many dealers are simply posting in the Cars and Trucks by Owner to get their advertisements out. 

Plenty of people use Craigslist to start their research. Our question is, has this change affected your car search and the way you look for your new vehicle?

Featured Car of the Week - 2006 Jeep Wrangler

You might hear often that "It's a Jeep Thing" and nothing can be more true. You need to drive one to understand it's culture and find your own love for your Jeep. They're always fun and enjoyable, and the 2006 Wrangler is no exception. In Florida, one of the best selling vehicles are these babies.

The Jeep name is steeped in American history so its no wonder why its so loved. The Wrangler's design still has the rough and tumble image it is so well known for. It has the superior off road ability you expect and remains unstoppable. The one we're featuring today is stock number #91,864.

It's a two door with a black exterior and grey interior. It's a manual with the 4.0L I-6 cyl engine and 4WD. AutoCheck lists it as a one owner, no accident Wrangler with a high score of 94. This one was also well maintained!

It also makes for a fun city drive though! The quirky character and rugged styling of this SUV will keep you smiling. Safe and reliable, the Wrangler comes with plenty of cargo room.

Jeep Wranglers are known for the experience and adventure they provide. Once you go Jeep, you don't go back! It may still be cold out, but Jeep season is approaching fast! Check out this one of a kind vehicle on our lot today.

See it here or call 850-479-2272 for more information

http://www.eddiemercer.com/used/Jeep/2006-Jeep-Wrangler-a2d0049b0a0a0065000b5cd89911ac9b.htm

Going to be one of those Saturdays

Using our Carfinder Tool

Did you know we have a Carfinder tool on our website? If we don't have the car you're looking for, just fill it out and when we get one in matching what you need, you'll receive an email! Maybe we don't have the manual 2005 Mustang GT you want, so don't miss out when it drives up on our lot. This easy to use tool really does come in handy for plenty of our customers.

It's no obligation, so don't worry. You won't be forced the buy the Mustang if it did arrive. It will just be a friendly reminder saying "Hey! we have what you were looking for!" This prevents you from having to constantly check our website.

You can also submit multiple requests!

Filling Out The Form To Get the Best Results

You might not know the answer right now to every question below but you should fill out as much as you can. If you only pick "Pre-owned" and nothing else, you'll receive an email for every vehicle in our inventory!!!

Type: We only deal with pre-owned vehicles, so this part is easy enough.

Make: Chevy, Ford, Toyota, Mercedes, etc? Right now, this part is required. But we are working on having it not be. We're making this change because maybe you're torn between a Chevy and Ford truck. We don't want you to feel restricted by being forced to choose one and make the search harder!

The next parts aren't required, but you might want to fill them out to narrow down your search. For example, if you picked "Ford" in "Make", currently you would receive an email for every Ford we have and will have on the lot. If it's ONLY Mustang you want, just select that!

Body Style: Maybe you know you want a Ford SUV, but not sure which SUV you want. This way you'd get notified for every SUV we get under the Ford brand!

Transmission: If you can only drive an automatic, you don't want to receive emails on our manual vehicles!

Sliders: Looking for only a high gas mileage cars? Specific years? Move the sliders around the match what you're looking for.

Contact Info: Your first and last names are required as are your phone number and email. We will try our best to help you along on your search.

Comments: This is where you'd write if there is anything you MUST have. Leather? Only red cars? Navigation? Just put it in the comment section and we'll take that into account!

Finally, Search Period: How long? It ranges from 2-16 weeks. You'll be notified when your search expires.

But remember! You can put in multiple requests for vehicles. And you can always give us a call at 850-479-2272 for further help.

Wish List : 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo with a Whale Tail!

This week we asked Jeremy what his "dream car" was. There was no debate; he knew right away what he wanted: a 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo S. He actually wanted the RUF but he wanted to make it easier for the research! Oh, and can't forget he wanted the whale tail.

The 911 was first introduced in 1963. It's a Grand Tourer from Germany and over the years they have been used in a ton of automobile competitions. They were actually one of the most successful in the races. In 1999, it came in 5th for the Car of the Century. It was voted #2 on Automobile Magazine's list of "100 Coolest Cars". Currently, the Porsche 911 is one of the oldest sports coupes still in production.

The 1994 Porsche 911 was under the number 964 when released. The first one was in 1989 and the Turbo version in 1990. Only 2,282 were made of the version Jeremy wanted. It has a top speed of 163 MPH and hits 60 MPH in 5.5 seconds. It still had the aircooled engine in '94. There is only 76 of the Slant nose version and only 17 Package cars. There is actually one featured in the 1995 movie Bad Boys.

Searching for how much the 94 Porsche goes for was a bit difficult. We found one with 105,864 miles that sold for $60,000. Most others shown have much less miles but request that you call for the price. It's estimated that a 20,000 mile 911 would still fetch 6 figures though! It had an original MSRP of $99,000.

Would you like to see your dream car featured? Leave it in the comments below!

Sources: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_964 , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_911#911_GT1 , Complex Rides http://www.complex.com/rides/2012/05/the-50-coolest-movie-cars-new/bad-boys-1994-porsche-911-964-turbo-36 , Thomas Classics , Sloan Cars http://sloancars.com/inventory/ , Cars on Line http://www.cars-on-line.com/porsche.html , Motor Car Group http://www.motorcargroup.com/web/used/Porsche-911-Turbo-S-Slant-Nose-1994-Solon-Ohio/1305861/

Coffee Cake

We know we're doing something right when our customers bring us coffee cake!! Thank you SO much Larry and Velnetta. It was absolutely delicious. And thank you again for your business!

With their Escalade:

Feel Good Moment

A Texas police officer took time out of his day to play a few minutes of football with a young boy. It's nice to know that people still take time out of their days for things like this! 

 

The police department released this statement in response: "While a 2 minute game of football might not mean anything to some, it some it could mean everything."

Featured Car of the Week - 2012 BMW 750LI Sedan

How many people have actually driven a BMW? They really are the ultimate driving machines. We actually have two 2012 BMW 750Li Sedans on our lot today! The one we're featuring though is stock number 962449. It's the perfect blend of comfort, luxury, and driving capabilities. Practical yet sporty and fun, this one makes a great family car to stand out in. It has a black exterior and interior for plenty of class.

It has a great AutoCheck: No accident and score of 87, above average. This one has 51,984 miles. 

Extremely fast, this BMW has all the power you could need with the 4.4L V8 Twin Power Turbo engine. 

A very responsive sedan, it has great handling, braking, and ride. The interior is completely driver oriented with lots of impressive technology. The seats are VERY comfortable and supportive, perfect for longer trips. The 7 series gets 14/22 MPH in the city and on the highway. It's an automatic with RWD and gets 400 hp at 5,500 RPM. 

Here's a list of of some of the 750's features:

• Leather upholstery and trim
• Premium Sound system
• Heated Front Seats
• Wooden Dashboard
• Automatic Temperature Control
• Moonroof
• Rear Air Conditioning
• Navigation
• Parking Sensors with Rear Parking Camera
• Cell phone connectivity

Enjoyment doesn't even begin to describe the BMW 750Li. Would you like to come in and give it a spin? Give us a call at 850-479-2272

Have a car you want to see featured on our lot? Leave it in the comments below! And let us know what you think of our 2012 BMW!

It's the Weekend!

Just a silly Saturday post. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Starting Your Search to Find Your New Car

For some people, deciding on a car is the hardest part of their car search. We have countless people come up and have no clue what they want or need. Sometimes, a walk around the lot is all they need to get a better idea but even then, others still have no idea when they leave!

The easiest way to start is to think about what is a must have. Do you need a car that's more fuel efficient to save money? Do you want one that's sporty and has plenty of speed to have fun? Maybe luxury vehicles is the way you want to go and they have to have Navigation and DVD players. If you have kids, you might not want to lean towards a coupe. Do you make a lot of road trips? An SUV might be in store for you then so it has room for all your luggage.

Another avenue you want to check before getting to deep into your search is cost. One thing that can happen is you fall in love with a car and then realize you can't afford it. Don't let your eyes get bigger than your stomach! We can help with financing, but having an idea how much you can afford a month out of your budget helps you figure out what you're in the market for. You don't want to have your heart set on a BMW that is $60,000 when you have a $15,000 budget. We actually have finance calculators on our website that can help determine the monthly payment. Don't hesitate to contact us for help in financing a car or if you have any questions.

What appeals to you? Think about design, utility, and reliability. Hyundai might be best because you're value oriented. Or BMW's features. Or Toyota Reliability. Each brand has their appeal so while you may LOVE Ford, you could never stand having a Chevy, or vice versa.

We, of course, don't mind helping you find the vehicle for you. That's what we're here for! Afterall, it's quite often a customer comes in for one vehicle and falls in love with another! The best way in the end to find out what car you want, is to just try it. Come in, see it, feel it, and test drive it to make sure it's the one for you.

Wish List

What is the one car you'd want more than any other? Ignore price and imagine you could get any car, which would it be? Leave your choice in the comments below and we'll try to do a piece about it!

One of our salesman, Andrew Jackson, picked the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Edition. The original SLR was started in 2003 and ran until 2009, when it was discontinued. McLaren and Mercedes-Benz had split ways and the it seemed the SLR would end. It had been inspired by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe and Race Car from 1955.

However, in December of 2010, Mercedes announced they would run a very limited edition of the SLR. Only 25 were made and only 7 of those were sold in the United States! It is very similar to the previous makes aside from the Stirling Moss. The McLaren was released with revised body work and interior plus upgraded steering and sports exhaust.

While Andrew prefers the silver versions, he can't help but call the one above sexy. It has a top speed of 2007 MPH and goes from 0-62 MPH in only 3.8 seconds. The 2011 kept the 5.5L supercharged V8 that gets 626 horsepower and 575 lb ft of torque.

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren had an original MSRP of $1,025,400.00. We found one today that is a custom gold and red that was asking for $10,000,000!!! However, we managed to find another that was $890,000. Might be closer to your budget.

The SLS succeeded the SLR and continues today.

We found quite a few strong opinions about the design and revival of the SLR. Some say it's ugly, others love it and are glad it's back. A few believe it's outstayed its welcome. What do you think of Andrew's dream car?

Sources: Top Car Rating http://www.topcarrating.com/price.php?brand_id=108 ; Tech Autos http://www.techautos.com/2010/12/05/mclaren-resurrects-mercedes-benz-slr-for-25-car-limited-edition/ ; Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_SLR_McLaren ; Top Automotive Collection http://top-automotive-collection.blogspot.com/2011/04/2011-mercedes-benz-mclaren-2010-preview.html

We're on Youtube

Did you know we have a Youtube channel? Still getting everything set up, but we should be posting one of our first videos on Friday. So make sure to subscribe! We'll include intros, walk arounds, and more! Click here to visit:

We're also on Google Plus, Facebook, and Twitter. Check out the side bar to your right to follow us.

Welcome to our First Post!

Welcome to the Eddie Mercer Automotive blog! Looking for tips on buying a car, car news, facts, and more? Subscribe to keep up with the latest info!

This is our first blog post and thank you for checking it out! Eddie Mercer Automotive is a used car dealer located in Pensacola, FL. We have always had a large variety of cars for sale ranging from Hyundai to Lotus (Yes!, we've had one Lotus - only lasted two days). No matter your taste, we have something to fit, from sports cars, reliable SUVs, fuel efficient sedans, work haulers, family vans, lifted trucks, and more! We consider our selection among the best in the Gulf Coast area.

Find us at 705 N New Warrington Rd
Pensacola FL 32506

or call 850-479-2272

In our blog, we intend to deliver plenty of relevant news and facts about us and the car business, including featured vehicles, our new inventory, world wide car news, and most importantly, tips on how to find the best used car for you and yours.

Thank you again; we look forward to talking to you!